AUSTRALIAN JOINT COPYING PROJECT
ALBERT MEEK
Correspondence, 1894-1931
Reel M2512
British Museum (Natural History) Cromwell Road South Kensington London SW7 5BD
National Library of Australia State Library of New South Wales
Filmed: 1991 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Albert Stewart Meek (1871-1943), the son of a trader in natural history specimens, was born in London. In 1890 he went to Queensland and spent some time at Coomooboolaroo, a cattle station near Duaringa. Its owner, George Barnard (d. 1894), had built a private museum to house his extensive collection of insects and birds’ eggs. In 1894 Meek was engaged by Walter Rothschild to collect birds and insects for his museum at Tring. For nearly twenty years he led a series of collecting expeditions to British, German and Dutch New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He was the author of A naturalist in Cannibal Land (1913). He continued to correspond with the Tring Museum in later years and helped to organise the expeditions led by Albert Eichhorn to New Guinea and New Britain in 1923-26.
(Lionel) Walter Rothschild (1868-1937), 2nd Baron Rothschild (succeeded 1915), was born in London. He was mainly educated at home and was then a student at Bonn University and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He joined the family bank of N.M. Rothschild & Sons, but his main interests were scientific. He began collecting insects as a schoolboy and later widened his collecting to birds and animals. His collections were stored at his father’s estate at Tring, Buckinghamshire, where a public museum was opened in 1892. He gave up his work in the City in 1908 and concentrated on his scientific activities. He was a trustee of the British Museum, a fellow of the Royal Society, and an honorary member of many important societies of entomology, ornithology and botany. He was a member of the House of Commons from 1898 to 1910.
Ernst Johann Otto Hartert (1859-1933) was born at Hamburg and later lived in East Prussia. He began writing about his ornithological discoveries in 1880. Between 1885 and 1891 he went on collecting expeditions in West Africa, Sumatra, the Straits Settlements, India and the West Indies. He moved to England in 1891 and in the following year he was appointed by Lionel Rothschild as the director of the museum at Tring. He held the position until 1930. He wrote numerous papers for the museum’s journal, Novitates Zoologicae and a monumental work, Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna (1903-22). He was president of the International Ornithological Congress in 1926. His last years were spent in Berlin.
(Heinrich Ernst) Karl Jordan (1861-1959) was born at Almstedt, near Hanover, and attended the University of Gottinngen, where he studied zoology and botany. In 1893 he was engaged by Lionel Rothschild as the curator of his insect collections kept at the museum at Tring. He held the position until 1930 and then succeeded Ernst Hartert as director of the museum. He retired in 1939. Jordan was a prolific writer, producing hundreds of scientific papers. He founded the International Congress of Entomologists in 1910 and was its permanent secretary until 1948. He was president of the Entomological Society of London in 1929-30.
Albert Frederic Eichhorn (d. 1930), who was the brother-in-law of Albert Meek, was born at Cooktown, Queensland. Between 1898 and 1913 he was a member of several of Meek’s expeditions to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, sometimes accompanied by his brother George Eichhorn. In 1918 they explored the Hydrographer Range in New Guinea, collecting for Walter Rothschild. Between 1923 and 1926 Eichhorn led expeditions to New Guinea, New Britain and the Bismarck Archipelago.
Note: The name of the British Museum (Natural History) was changed to the Natural History Museum in 1992.
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ALBERT MEEK Reel M2512
British Museum (Natural History) Tring Museum correspondence Box 83 Correspondence of Alfred Meek, 1894-1930
Items 1-87 Letters, 1894-1900
The letters refer to the purchase and sorting of the zoological collection of George Barnard (1894- 96), Meek’s first expedition to New Guinea, collecting in the Trobriand Islands and Woodlark Island, costs and expenditure, financial arrangements with Tring Museum, despatch of specimens, especially coleoptera (beetles) and lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), his relations with Papuans, hopes of exploring the interior of New Guinea, Meek’s visit to England (1896), his return to New Guinea (1897-99), his assistants W.G. Meek, Henry Barnard, and George and Albert Eichhorn, relations with Kanaka collectors, engagement of carriers, collecting of birds at Goodenough Island, encounters with aggressive ‘bushmen’, fevers and illnesses, a sailing accident at Woodlark Island (1897), his travel movements, specimens of particular interest, collecting on Rossel Island (1898), stories of cannibalism on Rossel Island, Meek’s relations with the governor William McGregor, his marriage to Emelie Eichhorn (1898) and births of children, and collecting in the Milne Bay region (1900).
Items 1-87 Letters, 1894-1900
1 Meek (Cooktown) to Ernst Hartert, n.d
1a Meek (Townsville) to Walter Rothschild, n.d.
2 Meek (Fergusson Island, D’Entrecasteaux Islands) to Rothschild, 26 Sept. 1894.
3 Meek (Fergusson Island) to Rothschild, 6 Nov. 1894.
4 Meek (Samarai, Papua) to Hartert, 17 Jan. [1895.
5 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 7 Feb. 1895.
6 Meek (Cooktown) to Rothschild, 9 Feb. 1895.
7 Meek (Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands) to Rothschild, 12 March 1895.
8 Meek (Kiriwina) to Rothschild, 30 March 1895.
9 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to Hartert, 31 March – 2 April 1895.
10 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to Hartert, 4 April 1895.
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11 Meek (Kaibola, Trobriand Islands) to Karl Jordan, 13-24 April 1895.
12 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to Karl Jordan, 4 May [1895].
13 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to Rothschild, 8 May 1895.
14 Meek (Kaibola, Trobriand Islands) to Jordan, 12 June [1895].
15 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to [Rothschild], 11 July 1895.
16 Meek (Trobriand Islands) to Rothschild, 16 July [1895].
17 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Jordan, 27 July [1895].
18 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 12 Aug. [1895].
19 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 19 Aug. [1894].
20 Meek (Samarai) to ?, 30 Aug. [1894?].
21 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 24 Aug. [1894?]
22 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 4 Oct. 1895.
23 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Jordan, 8 Nov. 1895.
24 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 27 Nov. 1895.
25 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 19 Jan. 1896.
26 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, n.d.
27 Meek (Cooktown) to Rothschild, 28 Jan. [1896?].
28 Meek (Rockhampton) to [Rothschild], 7 March 1896.
29 Meek (Rockhampton) to Hartert, 7 March 1896.
30 Meek (London) to Hartert, 10 May [1896?].
31 Meek (London) to Hartert, n.d.
32 Meek (London) to Hartert, 17 June [1896?].
33 Meek (London) to Hartert, 3 July [1896].
34 Meek (London) to Jordan, 4 July [1896?].
35 Meek (London) to Hartert, 13 July 1896.
36 Meek (London) to Jordan, 20 July [1896?].
37 Meek (London) to Harttert, 24 July [1896?].
38 Meek (London) to Hartert, 28 July [1896].
39 Meek (London) to Hartert, 6 Aug. [1896?].
40 Meek (London) to Jordan, 10 Aug. [1896].
41 Meek (London) to Jordan, 12 Aug. 1896.
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42 Meek (London) to Hartert, 14 Aug. [1896?].
42a Meek (London) to Hartert, 19 Aug. [1896].
43 Meek (RMS Origaba) to Hartert, 21 Aug. 1896.
44 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Hartert, 16 Dec. 1896.
45 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Hartert, 24 Dec. 1896.
46 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 7 Jan. 1897.
47 Meek (Woodlark Island) to [Rothschild], 5 Feb. 1897.
48 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 9 Feb. 1897.
49 W. Whitton (Samarai) to Meek, 18 Feb. 1897.
50 Packing note, 9 March [1899?].
51 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 26 March 1897.
52 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 28 April [1897?].
53 Meek (Woodlark Island) to Jordan, 2 May [1897?].
54 Meek (Fergusson Island) to Hartert, 30 May 1897.
55 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 9 July 1897.
56 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 24 July 1897.
57 Meek (St Aignan Island [Misima Island], British New Guinea) to [Rothschild], 19 Aug. 1897.
58 Meek (St Aignan Island) to Jordan, 3 Sept. 1897.
59 Meek (St Aignan Island) to Hartert, 10 Oct. 1897.
60 Meek (St Aignan Island) to [Rothschild], 18 Oct. 1897.
61 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 24 Oct. [1896?].
62 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Hartert, 26 Nov. [ 1896].
63 Meek (Rossel Island, Louisiade Archipelago) to Jordan, 10 Jan. 1898.
64 Meek (off Sudest Island, Louisiade Archipelago) to [Rothschild], 11 Jan. 1898.
65 Meek (Rossel Island) to Hartert, 9 Feb. 1898.
66 Meek (Rossel Island) to Jordan, 16 Feb. 1898.
67 Meek (Sudest Island) to Hartert, 12 April 1898.
68 Meek (Sudest Island) to Jordan, 12 April 1898.
69 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 4 April [1900?]
70 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 3 June [1898?]
71 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 1 July [1898?].
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72 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 9 July 1898.
73 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 2 Sept. 1898.
74 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 19 Sept. 1898.
75 Meek (cutter Calliope) to Jordan, 23 Nov. 1898.
76 Meek (Samarai) to [Rothschild], 10 Dec. 1898.
77 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 18 Jan. 1899.
78 Meek (Milne Bay, Papua) to [Rothschild], 13 Feb. 1899.
79 Meek (cutter Calliope) to Hartert, 10 March 1899.
80 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 29 March 1899.
81 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 21 Aug. 1899.
82 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 26 Aug. [1899?]
83 Meek (Sariba Island) to Jordan, 19 Nov. 1899.
84 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 30 Dec. 1899.
85 Cook (Saibai Island, Torres Strait) to Jordan, 29 Aug. 1900.
86 Meek (Saibai Island) to Hartert, 9 Dec. 1900.
87 G.C. Eichhorn (Gavutu Island, Solomon Islands) to Meek, 24 Dec. 1900.
Items 88-215 Letters, 1901-8
The letters refer to Meek’s first expedition to the Solomon Islands(1901), his plans for an expedition to the Aroa River in the interior of New Guinea, collecting of butterflies, insects, bird skins and other specimens, travel arrangements, the revision of his agreement with Walter Rothschild, the despatch of collections, the sale of the cutter Calliope (1902), costs, expenditure and financial arrangements, Meek’s attitude to A.E. Pratt and other collectors, his relations with officials such as George Le Hunte, Anthony Musgrave (Port Moresby) and Charles Woodford (Solomon Islands), his relations with Albert and George Eichhorn, specimens of special interest, birds of paradise, ornithoptera (birdwing butterflies), the first Aroa River expedition (1903), the journey from the mountains to Port Moresby, Meek’s return to the Solomon Islands (1903-4), the second Aroa River expedition (1904), the Bugi Mountains expedition (1905-6), the murder of a member of his party (April 1906), the death of W.G. Meek (1907), the expedition to the north-east coast of New Guinea (1907), receipt of equipment from Tring Museum, the question of a visit to Netherlands New Guinea, an expedition to the Solomon Islands and Bougainville (1907-8), Meek’s impressions of Bougainville, and his reasons for not staying at San Cristoval.
88 E.C. Perry (Florida Islands, Solomon Islands) to Meek, 29 Jan. 1901.
88a Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 12 Feb. 1901.
89 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 25 Feb. 1901.
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90 Meek (cutter Calliope, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 31 March 1901.
91 Meek (Florida Islands, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 11 April 1900 [1901?].
92 Meek (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 20 May 1901.
93 Meek (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands) to Jordan, 23 May 1901.
94 Meek (cutter Calliope, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 27 July [1901?].
95 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 20 Oct. 1901.
96 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 23 Oct. 1901.
97 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 24 Nov. 1901.
98 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 8 Dec. 1901.
99 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 4 May 1902.
100 Meek (Sariba Island) to Hartert, 7 Aug. 1902.
101 Meek (Sariba Island) to Hartert, 22 Oct. 1902.
102 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 23 Oct. [1902?]
103 Meek (Sariba Island) to Jordan, 16 Nov. 1902.
103a Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 4 Dec. [1902?]
104 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 11 Dec. 1902.
105 Meek (Mountains) to Jordan, 30 Jan. 1902 [1903].
106 Meek (Mountains) to Hartert, 30 Jan. 1903.
107 Meek (Aroa River, Papua) to Jordan, 18 Feb. 1903.
108 Meek (Aroa River) to Jordan, 12 March 1903.
109 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 22 April 1903.
110 Meek (Port Moresby) to Jordan, 23 April 1903.
111 Meek (Manu Manu, Papua) to Jordan, 2 May 1903.
112 Meek (Manu Manu) to Hartert, 16 June 1903.
113 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 3 July 1903.
114 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 3 Aug. 1903.
115 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 18 Aug. 1903.
116 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 8 Sept. 1903.
117 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 19 Sept. 1903.
118 Meek (Fergusson Island) to Jordan, 25 Sept. 1903.
119 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 10 Oct. [1903?]
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120 Meek (St Aignan Island) to Hartert, 17 Oct. 1903.
121 Meek (Solomon Islands) to Jordan, 24 Nov. 1903.
122 Meek (Gizo, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 24 Nov. 1903.
123 Meek (en route to Woodlark Island) to Hartert, 8 Jan. [1897].
124 Meek (Gizo, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 18 Jan. 1904.
125 Meek (Gizo, Solomon Islands) to Jordan, 28 Jan. 1904.
126 Meek (Gizo, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 24 March [1904?].
127 Meek (Shortland Island, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 25 May 1904.
128 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 19 June 1904.
129 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 19 June 1904.
129a Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 4 July 1904.
130 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 17 July 1904.
131 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 21 July 1904.
132 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 10 Aug. 1904.
133 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 26 Aug. 1904.
134 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 12 Sept. 1904.
135 Meek (Aroa River, British New Guinea) to Jordan. 17 Oct. 1904.
136 Meek (north of Aroa) to Jordan, 10 Nov. 1904.
137 Meek (head of river) to Hartert, 6 Dec. 1904.
138 Meek (Angabunga River, British New Guinea) to Hartert, 25 Dec. 1904.
139 Meek (Angabunga River) to Jordan, 25 Dec. 1904.
140 Meek (Angabunga River) to Hartert, 7 Jan. 1905.
141 Meek (Mountain Owgarra?) to Jordan, 27 Jan. 1905.
142 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, [18] March 1905.
143 Meek (Port Moresby) to Jordan, 20 March 1905.
144 Meek (Yule Island, Papua) to Hartert, 27 March 1905.
145 Meek (Yule Island) to Jordan, 28 March 1905.
146 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 16 July [1903?].
147 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 3 Aug. 1905.
148 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 1 Sept. [1905].
149 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 8 Sept. 1905.
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150 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 11 Sept. 1905.
151 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 28 Oct. 1905.
152 Meek (Normanby Island) to Hartert, 29 Oct. 1905.
153 Meek (Sariba) to Hartert, 27 Nov. 1905.
154 Meek (Sariba) to Jordan, 28 Nov. 1905.
155 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Jordan, 3 Feb. 1906.
156 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Jordan, 3 March 1906.
157 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Jordan, 25 [March ?] 1906.
158 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Hartert, 4 March [1906].
159 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Jordan, 1 April [1906].
160 Meek (Biagi Mountains) to Hartert, 2 April 1906.
161 Meek (Biagi Villages) to Jordan, 8 April 1906.
162 Meek (Biagi Villages) to Hartert, 13 April 1906.
163 Wilfred Beaver (Kokoda) to Meek, 13 April 1906.
164 Wilfred Beaver (Kokoda) to Meek, 14 April 1906.
165 Wlfred Beaver (Kokoda) to Meek, 14 April 1906.
166 Meek (Biagi district) to Hartert, 20 April 1906.
167 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 27 May 1906.
168 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 27 May 1906.
169 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 24 June 1906.
170 Meek (Cooktown) to Jordan, 24 June 1906.
171 Meek (Atherton) to Jordan, 8 Aug. 1906.
172 Meek (Cairns) to Jordan, 22 Aug. 1906.
173 Meek (Cooktown) to Hartert, 15 Sept. 1906.
174 Meek (Brisbane) to Jordan, 28 Sept. 1906.
175 Meek (Brisbane) to Hartert, 7 Dec. 1906.
176 Meek (Brisbane) to Jordan, 7 Dec. 1906.
177 Meek (Brisbane) to [Rothschild], 18 Dec. 1906.
178 Meek (Brisbane) to Hartert, 18 Dec. 1906.
179 Meek (Atherton) to Jordan, 2 Jan. 1907.
180 Meek (Cairns) to Jordan, 7 Jan. 1907.
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180a Dalgety (Sydney) to Meek, 12 Jan. 1907. (telegram)
181 Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 18 Jan. 1907.
182 Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 19 Jan. 1907.
183 Meek (Yule Island) to Jordan, 12 Feb. 1907.
184 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 19 March 1907.
185 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 19 March 1907.
186 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 31 March 1907.
187 Meek (Cape Nelson) to Jordan, 22 April [1907?].
188 Meek (Cape Nelson) to Hartert, 22 April 1907.
189 Meek (Buna Bay, Papua) to Hartert, 24 April 1907.
190 Meek (Buna Bay) to Jordan, 11 May 1907.
191 Meek (Girua River, Papua) to Jordan, 28 May 1907.
192 Meek (Buna Bay) to Jordan, 10 June 1907.
193 Meek (Girua River) to Jordan, 25 June 1907.
194 Meek (Girua River) to Jordan, 21 Aug. 1907.
195 Burns, Philp & Co. (Sydney) to Burns, Philp & Co. (Samarai), 30 Aug. 1907.
196 Meek (Girua River) to Jordan, 9 Sept. 1907.
197 Meek (Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 13 Nov. 1907.
198 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 19 Oct. 1907.
199 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 20 Oct. 1907.
200 Meek (Samarai) to [Rothschild], 23 Oct. 1907.
201 Meek (Gizo, Solomn Islands) to Jordan, 13 Nov. 1907.
202 Meek (Faisi, Solomon Islands) to Jordan, 20 Nov. 1907.
203 Meek (Kieta, Bougainville) to Jordan, 25 Nov. 1907.
204 Meek (Ameo, Bougainville) to Jordan, 28 Nov. 1907.
205 Meek (Gizo, Solomon Islands) to Hartert, 7 Feb. 1908.
206 Meek (Gizo) to Jordan, 7 Feb. 1908.
207 Meek (Gizo) to Jordan, 29 March 1908.
208 Meek (Gizo) to Hartert, 1 April 1908.
209 Meek (Florida Island) to Jordan, 11 April 1908.
210 Meek (Guadalcanal) to Hartert, 13 May 1908.
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211 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 4 June 1908.
212 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 12 Aug. 1908.
213 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 12 Aug. 1908.
214 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 7 Sept. 1908.
215 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 17 Nov. 1908.
216 Meek (Atherton) to Hartert, 23 Nov. 1908.
Items 216-90 Letters, 1909-14
The letters refer to Meek’s life on the Atherton Tablelands, his interest in exploring Dutch New Guinea, future collecting plans, the recruitment of labour, his arrival in Dutch New Guinea (May 1910), negotiations with local officials, the failure of the expedition led by Walter Goodfellow, the transport of specimens from the camp in the Snow Mountains in canoes over hundreds of rapids, collecting of birds and insects, new birds of paradise, fevers and other illnesses, financial arrangements, the despatch of collections, a journey to Island River, collecting in central Dutch New Guinea, differences between the birds discovered and those in British New Guinea, the difficulty of reaching high altitudes, the deaths of boys from beri-beri, Meek’s return to Australia (1911), his interest in the New Hebrides and the Banks Group, his visit to England (1912), his return to New Guinea (1912-13), the condition of his boat Shamrock, collecting on Goodenough Island, new discoveries including various species of butterflies, an expedition to German New Guinea (1913), collecting at the Admiralty Islands (Bismarck Archipelago), the publication of A naturalist among the cannibals (1913) and plans for future collecting. From 1911 onwards there are also copies of letters from Ernst Hartert and Karl Jordan at Tring, mostly acknowledging the receipt of consignments and referring to the agreements between Walter Rothschild and Meek and new discoveries made by Meek.
217 Meek (Atherton) to Hartert, 9 Feb. 1909.
218 Meek (Atherton) to Rothschild, 13 Feb. 1909.
219 Meek (Atherton) to Hartert, 2 April [1909?]
220 Meek (Duaringa, Queensland) to Jordan, 4 Oct. 1909.
221 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, n.d.
222 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, 21 Jan. 1910.
223 Not allocated
224 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, 19 Feb. 1910.
225 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 23 March 1910.
226 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 23 March 1910.
227 Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 16 May 1910.
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228 Meek (Merauke, Netherlands New Guinea) to Hartert, 28? May 1910.
229 Meek (Setakwa River, Netherlands New Guinea) to Jordan, 9 July 1910.
230 Meek (Setakwa River) to Hartert, 26 July 1910.
231 Meek (Setakwa River) to Jordan, 11 Sept. 1910.
232 Meek (Setakwa River) to Hartert, 11 Sept. 1910.
233 Meek (Merauke) to Hartert, 8 Dec. 1910.
234 Meek (Merauke) to Hartert, 9 Dec. 1910.
235 Meek (Island River) to Jordan, 2 Jan. 1911.
236 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 7 Jan. 1911. (copy)
237 Meek (Netherlands New Guinea) to Hartert, 15 Jan. 1911.
238 Jordan (Tring) to Meek (Thursday Island), 15 Feb. 1911. (copy)
239 Pencil sketch of a butterfly.
240 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 25 March 1911. (copy)
241 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 28 March 1911. (copy)
242 Meek (Merauke) to Hartert, 2 April 1911.
243 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 12 April 1911. (copy)
244 Meek (Thursday Island) to Jordan, 16 April 1911.
245 Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 28 April 1911.
246 Meek (Port Moresby) to Jordan, 5 June 1911.
247 Meek (Cairns) to Jordan, 23 July 1911.
248 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 15 Aug. 1911. (copy)
249 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 28 Sept. 1911. (copy)
250 Jordan (Tring) to Meek 30 Sept. 1911. (copy)
251 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, 3 Oct. 1911.
252 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, 8 Oct. 1911.
253 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 28 Nov. 1911. (copy)
254 Meek (Duaringa) to Hartert, n.d.
255 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 10 March 1912.
256 Thomas (Tring) to Meek, 29 April 1912. (copy)
257 Meek (London) to Hartert and Jordan, 5 May 1912.
258 Meek (London) to Thomas, 15 May 1912.
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259 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 13 June 1912. (copy)
260 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 26 June 1912. (copy)
261 Meek (London) to Jordan, [July 1912].
262 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 25 July 1912. (copy)
263 Meek (Duaringa, Queensland) to Hartert, 14 Sept. 1912.
264 Meek (Duaringa) to Jordan, 29 Sept. 1912.
265 Meek (Cairns) to Jordan, 5 Dec. 1912.
266 Meek (Port Moresby) to Hartert, 22 Dec. 1912.
267 Meek (Port Moresby) to Jordan, 23 Dec. 1912.
268 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 14 March 1913.
269 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Jordan, 30 March 1913.
270 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Jordan, 6 April 1913.
271 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Jordan, 16? May 1913.
272 Meek (Goodenough Island) to Hartert, 30? March [1913]
273 Meek (Samarai) to Hartert, 2 June 1913.
274 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 17 June 1913. (copy)
275 Meek Samarai) ro Hartert, 21 June 1913.
276 Meek (Morobe, German New Guinea) to Jordan, 1 July 1913.
277 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 31 July 1913. (copy)
278 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 12 Sept. 1913.
279 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 27 Oct. 1913. (copy)
280 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 25 Nov. 1913.
281 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 5 Dec. 1913.
282 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 11 Feb. 1914. (copy)
283 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 24 Feb. 1914.
284 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 27 Feb. 1914. (copy)
285 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 2 March 1914.
286 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 10? March 1914.
287 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 17 June 1914. (copy)
288 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 4 July 1914.
289 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 4 Aug. 1914. (copy)
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290 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 15 Aug. 1914. (copy)
Items 291-382 Letters, 1915-31
The correspondence between Meek and Albert Hartert and Karl Jordan refers to the possibility of further collecting by Meek, the interest of Walter Rothschild in New Guinea, the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz, Meek’s long periods in hospital (1916-17) and his subsequent health problems, his decision to give up collecting and his employment by Burns, Philp & Company (1919), his work inspecting plantations in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, the termination of Meek’s contract with Rothschild (1921), arrangements between Meek and Albert Eichhorn, Eichhorn’s collecting expeditions to New Ireland, Bougainville, New Britain and the Bismarck Archipelago (1923-26), shipping difficulties, costs, the inferiority of his collections compared to those of Meek, the despatch of consignments to England, payments by the Tring Museum, requests for equipment, possible collecting by Eichhorn in the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands, a stroke suffered by Eichhorn (1926), Meek’s farm on the south coast of New South Wales, his meeting with Eichhorn (1929), the death of Eichhorn (1930), and the retirement of Hartert and his return to Germany. There are also several letters written by Eichhorn between 1925 and 1928 requesting ornithological publications relating to the New Guinea region, his plans for future collecting in New Britain, requests for equipment, his search for Delias (butterflies), the difficulties of collecting in mountainous areas, a proposed expedition to the New Guinea mainland, the protection of birds of paradise, and Eichhorn’s condition following his stroke.
291 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 15 Jan. 1915. (copy)
292 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 11 Jan. 1916. (copy)
293 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 4 March 1916.
294 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 18 April 1916. (copy)
295 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 29 April 1916. (copy)
296 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 25 April 1916.
297 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 17 June 1916.
298 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 15 July 1916. (copy)
299 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 8 Sept. 1916. (copy)
300 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 20 Sept. 1916.
301 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 3 Oct. 1916.
302 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 3 Nov. 1916.
303 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 28 Jan. 1917.
304 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 28 Feb. 1917.
305 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 31 Aug. 1917.
306 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 23 Feb. 1918.
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307 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 21 April 1918.
308 Meek (Thursday Island) to Hartert, 26 July 1918.
309 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 20 Sept. 1918.
309a Draft note by Hartert, 24 Aug. 1919.
310 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 26 April 1919.
311 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 25 Aug. 1919.
312 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 5 Sept. 1919.
313 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 18 Nov. 1919.
314 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 22 Jan. 1920.
315 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 9 March 1920.
316 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 6 May 1920.
317 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 12 April 1921.
318 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 14 May 1921.
319 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 6 Aug. 1921.
320 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 31 Aug. 1921.
321 Burns, Philp & Co. (London) to Hartert, 12 Oct. 1921.
322 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 14 Oct. 1921.
323 [Hartert] to Burns, Philp & Co., 14 Oct. 1921.
324 Burns, Philp & Co. (London) to Hartert, 15 Oct. 1921.
325 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 17 Oct. 1921.
326 [Hartert] (Tring) to Burns, Philp & Co., 17 Oct. 1921.
327 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 31 Oct. 1921.
328 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 30 Nov. 1921.
329 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 23 Nov. 1922.
330 Meek (Samarai) to Jordan, 23 Dec. 1922.
331 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 8 Jan. 1923.
332 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 6 June 1923.
333 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 25 Oct. 1923.
334 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 27 Oct. 1923.
335 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, n.d.
336 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 14 Nov. 1923.
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337 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 13 Dec. 1923.
338 [Jordan?] (Tring) to Meek, 22 Jan. 1924.
339 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 29 April 1924.
340 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 30 April 1924.
341 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 7 July 1924.
342 Meek (Caloundra) to Hartert, 19 Aug. 1924.
343 [Hartert] (Tring) to Bank of North Queensland, 13 Sept. 1924.
344 Hartert (Tring) to Meek, 13 Sept. 1924.
345 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 29 Sept. 1924.
346 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Meek, 14 Oct. 1924.
347 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Albert Eichhorn, 5 Nov. 1924.
348 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 13 Nov. 1924.
349 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 2 Dec. 1924.
350 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Burns, Philp & Co., 30 Dec. 1924
351 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Meek, 30 Dec. 1924.
352 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 6 Jan. 1925.
353 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 20 Feb. 1925.
354 [Hartert] (Tring) to Bank of North Queensland, 20 Feb. 1925.
355 Albert Eichhorn (New Britain) to Hartert, 10 May 1925.
356 Albert Eichhorn (New Britain) to Jordan, 10 May 1925.
357 Albert Eichhorn (Witu Islands, New Britain) to Hartert, 9 July 1925
358 Meek (Sydney) to Jordan, 25 July 1925.
359 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 25 July 1925.
360 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Albert Eichhorn, 5 Aug. 1925.
361 Albert Eichhorn (Witu Islands) to Hartert, 18 Aug. 1925.
362 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 9 Sept. 1925.
363 [Jordan] (Tring) to Albert Eichhorn, 16 Sept. 1925.
364 [Jordan] (Tring) to Meek, 16 Sept. 1925.
365 Albert Eichhorn (Rabaul) to Hartert, 15 Oct. 1925.
366 [Hartert] (Tring) to Albert Eichhorn, 5 Nov. 1925.
367 [Hartert] (Tring) to National Bank of Australasia (London), 23 Dec. 1925.
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368 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 24 Dec. 1925.
369 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Albert Eichhorn, 22 Jan. 1926.
370 [Hartert] (Tring) to National Bank of Australia (London), 2 July 1926.
371 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Meek, 2 July 1926.
372 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert, 19 Aug. 1926.
373 [Hartert?] (Tring) to Meek, 1 Oct. 1926.
374 Albert Eichhorn (Salamaua, Papua) to Meek, 20 May 1928.
375 [Hartert] (Tring) to Meek, 16 Aug. 1928.
376 Meek [Milton, New South Wales] to Hartert, 1 Oct. 1928.
377 Albert Eichhorn (Sydney) to Meek, 30 Dec. 1928.
378 Meek [Milton] to Rothschild, 29 Jan. 1929.
379 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 11 March 1929.
380 Meek [Milton] to Jordan, 3 May 1929.
181 Meek (Sydney) to Hartert and Jordan, 30 June 1931.
182 Jordan (Tring) to Meek, 8 Aug. 1931.
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